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2017 International Education Day Photo Contest Winners

International and study abroad students were recognized during International Education Day for their winning photo contest entries.

Grand Prize

Peter Schneider, Washington University in St. Louis.

“The balance between traditional and western values is an ongoing clash in South Africa, especially in the rural areas. As a result, many couples decide to have two weddings – a Christian “white wedding” and a traditional Zulu wedding – to match their duality of beliefs and values. Here, at a Zulu wedding, the groom and his groomsmen, dressed in traditional attire, partake in the celebration with song and dance. This event summarized the South Africa that I fell in love with – a beautiful country full of people with strong ties to their history who also love to dance and have fun.”

STUDY ABROAD

1st Place

Julia Mandel, Washington University in St. Louis.

“This photo was taken at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on a class trip to Warsaw, Poland. It honors the unknown soldiers who have given their lives to Poland. I feel this image really captures the contradictions of Poland I came to understand on my short trip. The solemnity of the soldiers represents the difficult, often tragic past of Poland, while the playful children’s faces in the middle represent the hopeful future of the country.”

2nd Place

Madison Krannawitter, Northwest Missouri State University.

“This photo was taken during a full day of old church tours throughout Rome. This man truly struck me because of the raw emotion you could feel from him and his reasoning for being at the church and praying. It was a good contrast between Roman citizens and tourists interacting in their daily life and environments.”

3rd Place

Rebecca Yang, Washington University in St. Louis.

“I first discovered Chefchaouen on a Free People travel blog even before I had decided to study abroad. From that moment on however, Chaouen shot to the top of my travel bucket list. The blue city is nestled in the Moroccan mountains, a little ways off from the chaos of the Marrakech and Fes medinas. Moroccan hospitality was truly alive in this quaint, blue city and I’ll never forget that feeling of knowing that dreams can come true.”

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT

1st Place

Laura Ketzer, Missouri State University.

“Missouri has to offer some incredible night skies! You will have a hard time seeing anything like it in Europe. The stars remind me of the vastness of the universe, and how insignificant this makes us seem. But the beauty of the night sky also reminds me that life as we know it is rare and precious, and that the Earth is a beautiful and unique home.”

2nd Place

Linda Bucaram, Lindenwood University.

“Hate and tiredness.”

3rd Place

Dom Newton, Missouri Valley College.

“This photo was taken at the World Trade Centre station, in the Financial District neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Just before the morning rush of commuters flooded through, the empty atmosphere of the station gave me a peaceful and appreciative feeling towards life. The achromatic aesthetics contrasting the flag showed me how the station was truly a memorial and represented the purity of life after what had happened on 9/11.”